Electric truss



B. R. LATHROP.

(No Model.)

ELECTRIC TEUSS.

.No 541,367. Patented June 18, 1895.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

UNiTn STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

BEN R. LATHROP, OF WEEDSPORT, NEl/V YORK.

ELECTRIC TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,367, dated June 18, 1895.

Application filed August 27, 1894:. Serial No. 521,375- (No model.)

, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BEN R. LATHROP, of WVeedsport, in the county of Oayuga,in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trusses, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to trusses, and particularly to those in which the pads, or backpad or both, are provided with means to create an electric circuit through the body of the wearer.

My object is to produce a truss in which the pad is recessed or otherwise adapted to carry a battery, in which the back-pad is provided with pole-plates, and in which the body upon which the front and back pads are mounted is a conductor, or is adapted to electrically connect said battery to the poles upon the back-pad, so that a continuous electrical current is maintained from the battery through the support to and through the backpad and through the person of the wearer through the other pole of the battery; or in which a battery cell, or cells, may be mounted in and carried by the backpad and the front pad connected to one pole thereof through the support.

My invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation hereinafter described and which are specifically set forth in the claim hereunto annexed.

It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the truss complete. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the pad. Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation thereof on line to w, in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a pad provided with a different mounting upon the support. Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of a pad provided with two cells, and the pads shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be consideredas illustrations of a double-cell pad, though Figs. 2 and 3 can also.

A is the pad of non-conducting material, sometimes called the truss-pad or pressure-pad, recessed longitudinally to receive the end of the support -aand therein adjustably secured by the set-screw b-.

The support shown is constructed of spring wire, in the usual manner and -c is the back-pad mounted thereon and provided with the poles .d which are connected to said support and bear upon the back of the wearer. Into the body of the pad, a battery eis removably inserted, either a dry battery or a liquid one securely sealed, and in any event of ordinary construction, except the body or outer casing consists of zinc or. other condoctor and constitutes a pole thereof while the wire his connected to the other pole and insulated from said casing, except as said poles are connected through the interior of said battery. This wire is connected to the pad support.

A screw is inserted through the bearing face of the pad and makes contact with the battery pole (casing) and is provided with a pole-plate -m which bears against the person of the wearer of the truss. By these means when a truss is placed in position a circuit is established between one or both of the backpad poles and the pole m and the wire h and the pad support.

here two cells are used the pad is provided with one or two poles mand both cells are connected by wires -h to the pad sup-' port.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a truss, a pressure pad, a battery placed therein, and a screw passing through the hearing face of the pad, and making contact with the battery pole or casing, and provided with a pole plate, combined with the support a, connected at one end to the pad, the back pad mounted on the support, and provided with the poles d, which are connected with the support, and the Wire h, substantially'as shown.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 25th day of August, 1894.

. BEN R. LATHROP.

In presence of- W. H. KEVANE, ISAAC CHADDERDON. 

